Letter-copying press



(No Model.) I

W. J. BARNES.

LETTER GOPYING PRESS.

No. 392,486. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

[WE/V2072 To all whom it may concern:

UNITED FFIQEG Arr LETTERQ'COPYING PRESS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,486, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed April 3, 1888. Serial No. 269,522.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. Bamvns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of WVinnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Copying Presses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in letter copying presses; and the object of my improvements is to apply compound -lever power and to equalize and adjust the pressure. I attain these objects by the construction and mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of the press with the lever down and power applied. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the center of the press and lever. Fig. 3 is atop view of lower end of lever D and connections.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A A is the outside box, the top B being strengthened by the cross-cleats b I), bolted through the top and sides to the bottom by the bolts 0 c c c.

e is an opening through the top to allow passage of lower endof lever D.

D is a lever attached to the top at the folcrum F by a hinge and connected at the lower end with the adjusting thumbscrew or boltE.

f is a partition extending across the box, with an opening, 2, in the center to allow passage of the equalizing-lever m.

The screwthread at lower end of bolt E passes through an opening in rear end of the lever m and screws into the nut 11, the nut a being fastened movably over the opening in the lever at, so as to allow the bolt E to be thrown off the center when the lever is raised. The lever in is pivotally connected to the front side of the box on its inner face at the fulcrum P, and is connected with the carryingtable 12 by the bolt R, which is fastened to the center of the table if and slides longitudinally (No model.)

in the oblong slot r, the lever in bearing against the shoulder .9.

By reason of the structure just described the carrying-table can rock on the shoulders, so as to accommodate itself to any variation from a horizontal plane which may exist at the under side of the book or copying material. This feature of the apparatus is important, for the reason that the outer edges of a copyingbook usually spread more than the edges which are bound, and if the two pressing-surfaces approach each other lying in parallel planes the written matter near the binding will copy much more distinctly than that near the free edges. If, however, one of the pressing surfaces can tilt slightly, so as to accommodate itself to the angle of the book-cover, all portions of the writing will be subjected to equal pressure, and a uniformity of copying Will be secured.

T is the extracting-ribbon to pull the letterbook from the press.

K is acatch fitting into the notch L to hold the lever down. The weight of the handle It causes it to latch automatically.

The lower end of lever D is forked, as shown in Fig. 3, to admit passage of the thumb-screw E, which passes through the opening a: in the iron crossbar a, which is pivoted to the forks of the lever it a. The thumb-screw or bolthead rests upon and the bolt turns in the crosspiece a. The pivoted bearings of the crosspiece allow it to turn as the lever D is raised and lowered. By turning the thumb-screw E the lever in is raised or lowered to adjust the press to letter-books of different thickness. The thumb screw E is also the connecting-rod between the two levers D and m.

In using the press, the lever D being raised, I slide thelet-ter-book into the opening 0 above the ribbon T and upon the table 't. Then, by taking hold of the handle of the lever D, by a single downward pressure I raise the lever m, which bears upwardly against the shoulder s at the center of the table '6, and I thereby apply the pressure to the center of the letterbook against the top B. I have a compoundlcver action. A pressure downward upon the handle of lever D causes a multiplied upward pressure against the center of the table t, and this pressure can be increased by increasing the ratio in length of the power-arm to the The combination of the fixed pressureboard weight-arm of both levers. B, the pressure-lever m, mounted so as to rock The press, if made of hard wood, excepting on a fixed hearing at one end, a tilting press 15 the bolts, bearings, and hinges, will be strong ore-table carried by the lever, a hand-lever,

5 enough to withstand pressure. The power apand a link connecting the same with the pressplied being downward, it is not necessary that ure-lever. the press be of iron and of great weight or In testimony whereofI affix my signature in that it be fastened to an immovable object. It presence of two witnesses.

only requirrs a single downward pressure of XVILLIAM J. BARNES. [o the lever D to operate the press. \Vitnesses:

Therefore what I claim as my invention, and O. L. DAW'LEY. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 11. S. DAWLEY. 

